Discostella
Houk & Klee 2004 Category: Centric
TYPE SPECIES: Discostella stelligera (Cleve & Grunow) Houk & Klee
CLASS: Coscinodiscophyceae
ORDER: Thalassiosirales
FAMILY:
- Alveoli large, central, often froming a star-shaped pattern
- Single rimoportula, positioned on the margin between costae
Discostella grows as solitary cells or forms colonies in chains. The central area may be flat or concentrically undulate. Large, distinctive alveoli from a star-shaped pattern in the central valve. Radial costae are present at the valve margin. Small spines may be present or absent on the costae. Central to the costae are striae, which may be uniseriate or multiseriate. Marginal fultoportulae are present, located on every few stria. A single rimoportula is positioned on the margin of the valve, between two costae.
Discostella contains the 'stelligeroid' Cyclotella sensu lato" species, and includes *D. stelligera, D. pseudostelligera, D. woltereckii, D. glomerata, D. stelligeroides. In general, the group is widespread in planktonic habitats.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Discostella. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 24, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Discostella
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - May 2009
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Citations
Houk, V. and Klee, R. (2004). The stelligeroid taxa of the genus Cyclotella (Kutz.) Brebisson (Bacillariophyceae) and their transfer to the new genus Discostella gen. nov. Diatom Research 19: 203-228.
Huber-Pestalozzi, G. (1942). Das Phytoplankton des Susswasers. Systematik und Biologie. In Die Binnengewasser, A. Thienemann (ed.) 16: 367-549. E Schweizerbart'sche Verlag. Stuttgart, Germany.
Hustedt, F. (1930). Die Kieselalgen Deutschlands, Osterreichs und der Schweiz mit Berucksichtigung der ubrigen Lander Europas sowie der angrenzenden Meersgebiete. In: Dr. L. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz. Leipzig, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Geest und Portig K.-G. Vol. 7, Part 3, pp. 557-816.
Tanaka, H. (2007). Taxonomic studies of the genera Cyclotella (Kützing) Brébisson, Discostella Houk et Klee, and Puncticulata Håkansoon in the family Stephanodiscaceae Glezer et Makarova (Bacilariophyta) in Japan. Bibliotheca Diatomologica 53: 1-205.
Wunsam, S., Schmidt, R. and Klee, R. (1995). Cyclotella-taxa (Bacillariophyceae) in lakes of the Alpine region and their relationship to environmental variables. Aquatic Sciences 57: 360-386.